Virat Kohli, Rohit Sharma will never leave Indian team, even if it means quitting IPL, says Munaf Patel

Published - 16 Apr 2026, 15:42 IST | Updated - 16 Apr 2026, 15:55 IST

Former Indian cricketer Munaf Patel has praised veteran batters Virat Kohli and Rohit Sharma for their India first approach amid ongoing discussions about their future. Despite stepping away from Test and T20I formats, both players remain committed to representing the national side in ODIs.

The experienced duo also participated in the Vijay Hazare Trophy (VHT) last year to maintain match fitness ahead of the 2027 ODI World Cup, which will be held in South Africa, Zimbabwe, and Namibia. Munaf suggested that representing India continues to be their top priority and added that both Kohli and Rohit could even consider stepping away from the Indian Premier League (IPL) to focus entirely on international cricket commitments.

"I have always seen Virat Kohli and Rohit Sharma put the country first. The level of priority they show is on another level. They might leave the IPL if needed, but they will never leave the Indian team. That's something you will always see," Munaf told the Times of India.

Kohli is currently representing Royal Challengers Bengaluru (RCB), while Rohit Sharma is playing for Mumbai Indians (MI) in the IPL 2026 season. Kohli recently led RCB to their fourth victory against Lucknow Super Giants (LSG) at the M. Chinnaswamy Stadium. Despite dealing with an ankle injury, Kohli looked in excellent touch, scoring 49 runs and entertaining the home crowd.

Meanwhile, Rohit has also been dealing with fitness concerns. During the clash between MI and RCB, he had to retire out due to a hamstring issue. The 38-year-old’s injury appears to be more serious and is expected to sideline him for the next two matches against Punjab Kings (PBKS)  and Gujarat Titans (GT).

Looking at their ODI careers, Kohli has played 311 matches, scoring 14,797 runs at an outstanding average of 58.71, including 54 centuries and 77 half-centuries. On the other hand, Rohit has featured in 282 ODIs, amassing 11,577 runs at an average of 48.84, with 33 centuries and 61 fifties to his name.